Meet Florida Orchestra violinist Ginny Respess

Age: Older than I look, but still able to clearly recall the college days.

With the orchestra since: January 2009

Hometown: Atlanta

Education: Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music

Age I started studying my instrument: 2

My iPod's usually playing: Alison Krauss, definitely. Lots of classic rock while I'm driving: Kansas, Creedence, Aerosmith. Coldplay when I'm in a brooding mood. Michael Bublé when I'm in a happy mood. The old songstresses — Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Nina Simone — when I'm cooking. Country music — Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Big and Rich — when no one else is around!

Last book I read was: Just starting Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer after going (mostly) vegetarian last year.

I'm an expert at: Galaga. They had the arcade game backstage at the Atlanta Symphony when I was growing up and one of the cellists showed me how to rig it so I didn't have to put in a quarter. Nobody I know has ever beaten me.

But I'm really lousy at: dating.

Dream vacation: a summer rental in County Kerry, Ireland, with weekend trips to the Hebrides and the British Museum in London. Maybe even a summer job shearing sheep.